"Nepo Babies" Spark Online Debate

By Hunter Maguire

What are “Nepo Babies?”

If you’ve opened social media at all in the past few months, you’ve probably seen the term “nepotism baby” floating around in hyperspace Perhaps you’ve even witnessed heated debates online over the topic, or already have opinions on whether “nepo-babies” deserve their role in our cultural landscape Whether you’re familiar with the drama or not, keep reading for a full recap

What actually is a “nepo-baby?”

The term “nepo-baby” is shorthand online for a child of famous parents (especially in the entertainment industry) who is given unfair opportunities because of their associations and connections. Nepotism, defined by Merriam Webster as “favoritism based on kinship,” has occurred since the dawn of human history, but nepotism babies are a uniquely modern phenomenon.

Especially in the wake of recent social justice movements as well as the Varsity Blues scandal (in which celebrity parents paid a “college counselor” to falsify their children’s SATs and applications), the role of familial advantages has been condemned as unjust worddddd word

The “nepo-baby” conversation traces its roots to Twitter, but it reached a much larger audience in 2022 when the New York Times, Vulture, and other mainstream media outlets covered the subject.

Which celebrities are examples of nepo-babies?

How was this term popularized?

Debate over the privilege held by the children of wealthy or famous parents has raged for the past few years.

Lily Collins, Emily in Paris: daughter of musician Phil Collins, was presented as a debutante in Paris in 2007

Maude Apatow, Euphoria: daughter of director Judd

Apatow and actress Leslie Mann

Rashida Jones, The Office + Parks and Recreation: daughter of twenty-eighttime Grammy winner Quincy Jones and actress Peggy Lipton

Kaia Gerber, Vogue “Big word

Celebrities from famous backgrounds include: word

Hailey Bieber, model and socialite: wife of pop idol

Justin Bieber, niece of infamous actor Alec Baldwin

Four” model: daughter of supermodel Cindy Crawford How are celebrity children reacting?

Many celebrity children have denied that having famous parents grants them a “leg-up,” including actresses Zoë Kravitz and Maude Apatow. Kravitz defended her stardom, replying that it’s “completely normal for people to be in the family business,” while Apatow found it “sad” that the internet focused on her legacy status Others, like model Kate Moss’s sister Lottie Moss, antagonized nepo-baby critics, saying, “Obviously it’s not fair that people who come from famous families are getting a leg up because of that, but guess what? Life isn’t fair.” She received serious fallout from this statement and eventually took down her Twitter account. A few nepotism babies, however, accept the role industry worddd connections played in their accomplishments. Actress Lily Allen, reflecting on her career, felt it was “important to disclose what a privileged upbringing I’ve had and how that has created so many wordd opportunities for me.”

Celebrity Jane Fonda also admitted that “people give you things when you’re famous,” describing how her success was largely due to her father’s fame. Regardless of your personal feelings on “nepo-babies,” the conversation raises important questions of fairness and privilege. The idea of nepotism babies may seem silly, but the issues nepotism stirs are serious ones.